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No they aren't. At least not entirely. Examples of universal aesthetic values that aren't culturally constructed:
-Raw sewage smells bad.
-Nails on a chalkboard is an unpleasant sound.
-Elderly people are unattractive.
Racial preferences in attraction are certainly affected by culture in general, but it is possible to imagine someone whose preferences are indeed "in a vacuum."

Racism: a general prejudice and/or discrimination against people of a certain race.

No really sure about the hair color thing. I don't really know the history behind it. I would guess the preference for blondes is also racial since they tend to be associated with more racially homogeneous people from northern Europe. Again, I really don't know why. I've never really had a hair preference.

My understanding is the opposite of this. Genetic diversity is suppose to be good, I thought. This is why you don't want to have offspring with a sibling or cousin, for example.

Yes about the blondes. Hell, when you get a bunch of white supremacists together you can hear discussions about who is the most authentically white. The blond Aryan look is preferred, while darker haired Greeks and Italians can be looked down upon. I've also seen arguments about whether Turks are white. That one's a real can of worms.

Really? I mean, aren't some things innate? People want healthy offspring, and fat people are much more likely to have health problems. Men like younger women because old women are unable to have children. Women like men with money because they'll be better providers. Seems like a lot is just nature.

Some things may perhaps be innate, but it's hard to see how race is. Unless you think black people are inherently inferior to other races and thus should be avoided so as not to weaken the gene pool.

Also, people who are overweight used to be seen as desireable historically since it was a sign of wealth. Indeed, in much of the "underdeveloped world" overweight people are generally well off and thus sought after.

Back to dating, if I'm messaging a white girl I try to gauge whether it's worth it to send her a white girl. If she says "I want a country boy" and has a rebel flag in her photo, Yea, not worth sending a message...

Some things may perhaps be innate, but it's hard to see how race is. Unless you think black people are inherently inferior to other races and thus should be avoided so as not to weaken the gene pool.

Also, people who are overweight used to be seen as desireable historically since it was a sign of wealth. Indeed, in much of the "underdeveloped world" overweight people are generally well off and thus sought after.

Didn't know that about overweight people, but I guess it makes sense. I pretty much agree with you about the race issue though.

Racism: a general prejudice and/or discrimination against people of a certain race.

I hope you don't mind me defining the other words you used there using google define:

prejudice: "Preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience."
discrimination: "The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things"

I would say that for most people (at least ones that aren't overtly racist otherwise), racial preferences for dating are based on experience (ie "I've seen many black people and they simply don't arouse me as much") and are not unjust. I think it would be a stretch to call this racism, and it's a stretch that make the word too weak.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalerobk2

No really sure about the hair color thing. I don't really know the history behind it. I would guess the preference for blondes is also racial since they tend to be associated with more racially homogeneous people from northern Europe. Again, I really don't know why. I've never really had a hair preference.

Why can't it be like with other areas of aesthetics -- some people prefer certain colors to paint their houses with, some people prefer certain artists over others, etc. I don't know that hair color has to turn into a racial thing too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalerobk2

My understanding is the opposite of this. Genetic diversity is suppose to be good, I thought. This is why you don't want to have offspring with a sibling or cousin, for example.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amazinmets73

Isn't diversification of genes a good thing? We all know what inbreeding does to mammals...

You both are correct, but completely miss the point. Evolution drives us to preserve our genes. It's why we have babies in the first place (evolutionarily speaking). This also drives us to protect those around us (so they protect us later, and also because they are likely genetically similar to us since they live near us). I am fairly certain it also drives us to sexually preferring those with similar genes to us.

Thanks for ruining a perfectly fine thread Dalerobk2. We get it, you are sooo ****ing liberal and multi-cultural that you have TWO black friends, and you want everyone around to know that. Now please STFU.

I take back what I just said, people like Dalerobk2 dont have any friends. At one point one of his "friends" will mention that Italian food is his/her favorite type of food. Dalerobk would then go into a wild tangent proclaiming that deep seeded racism is the reason they dont like fried chicken the most as historically it was seen as a food for the lower-class black slaves of the south. That would be the last time the two people hung out.

The only problem is that the aversion to black women is near universal in American culture across racial lines. Even most black men find it brag worthy to have had sex with a white woman or have a white girlfriend. As chronicfever mentioned, Middle Eastern people and other minority groups would be fine if you marry into the dominant white culture, but if you bring home a black woman all hell will break out. Actually, he might not have said that exactly, but I suspect that is largely true. I'd be curious to hear how he thinks his parents would respond to a white woman versus a black woman.

There is clearly a difference in racial attitudes and dating then with other individual preferences, such as height, hair color, whatever.

There is clearly a difference in racial attitudes and dating then with other individual preferences, such as height, hair color, whatever.

I don't see what the clear difference is except that some people actually are racist. For the rest of us, I don't see your definition fitting, and I find race to be similar to the other features as discussed.

Let's not question Dale's expertise in this field. Dale has seen the world, Dale stands for every man, and Dale is every race at once. If Dale is offended, we are all offended. Dale is inside all of us

Thanks for ruining a perfectly fine thread Dalerobk2. We get it, you are sooo ****ing liberal and multi-cultural that you have TWO black friends, and you want everyone around to know that. Now please STFU.

Did you say you were sort of over black girls, amazin? If so, what led you to that? The only thing that's bothered me about dating them IME is that they have completely avoided confrontation, never wanted to break-up in person, just through text or just ignoring me without stating a reason. Obviously not saying ALL or MOST are like that, just my experiences. It's definitely frustrating and immature to deal with.

Did you say you were sort of over black girls, amazin? If so, what led you to that? The only thing that's bothered me about dating them IME is that they have completely avoided confrontation, never wanted to break-up in person, just through text or just ignoring me without stating a reason. Obviously not saying ALL or MOST are like that, just my experiences. It's definitely frustrating and immature to deal with.

My reason is that they're always asking me for money. In my limited experiences with white women I've never had that problem. So yea, enough's enough, I'm not paying anyone to be my girlfriend.

"Even most black men find it brag worthy to have had sex with a white woman or have a white girlfriend."

Stereotype much? Looking forward to more insights from you into the mindset of the black man!

You've made three posts in this thread and none have had any substance.

You can also look at it from another way too. Most black women have straight hair rather than a more natural afro. Why? It probably has something to do with our aesthetic holding white women up as the ideal of feminine beauty. My point is simply that those pernicious racial attitudes permeate all groups in our society in ways that may seem subtle and largely ignored and/or unnoticed. The fact that so many people have gone ballistic on me itt for me, gasp, suggesting that racial attitudes play a role in, you know, white people largely not being attracted to a specific racial group (black people) blows my mind. I suspect most of you are white guys who are not attracted to black women and don't want to face the uncomfortable reality that racial attitudes are behind your aversion to black women. Studies show that racial attitudes affect all people in our culture. Even black cab drivers are less likely to pick up a black man than a white customer. Heads asplode.